Display rack



C. F. SMITH DISPLAY RACK Sept. 22, 1964 Filed Dec. 31, 1962 Affar eyAUnited States Patent 3,149,729 DISPLAY RACK Cecil F. mith, Dewney,Califi, assignor to Banner Metals, Inc, Compton, Califi, a corporationof California Filed Dec. 31, 1952, Ser. No. 243,492 '7 Claims. (6!.211-i84) The present invention relates to display racks, and it relatesmore particularly to an improved, self-supporting modular rack which isespecially adapted for the display of articles of merchandise in retailoutlets; the rack displaying the articles in a random bulk manner, forexample, for convenient self-service by the consumer.

The improved display rack of the invention serves to reduce to a largeextent the operations necessary for displaying goods for sale in amarket. Thi is because, instead of stacking the articles to be sold in apainstaking manner, they may be placed haphazardly in the varioussections of the display rack to be described.

An object of the present invention, therefore, is to provide an improvedstorage and display rack which is especially adapted for use in markets,and the like, and in which the merchandise to be displayed for sale canbe randomly dumped into different sections of the rack, with a resultantsaving in time and effort, as compared with the prior art practice ofcarefully stacking the merchandise on shelves.

Another object of the invention is to provide such an improved storageand display rack which is constructed to be self-supporting.

A feature of the invention is the provision of an improved storage anddisplay rack of the multi-section type; which is constructed to receivea plurality of movable dividers, and of anchoring the dividers firmly inplace, so as to provide a degree of flexability in the number and sizeof each of the individual sections.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of such an improvedstorage and display rack which is composed of one or moreself-supporting elongated multisection wire-formed baskets; and which isconstructed and conceived so that the individual baskets may be mountedin a stacked relationship, on a supporting bracket, for example, so asto achieve a maximum of space conservation and to obviate the need forcounters, shelves, display cases, or the like, to support the individualbaskets of the invention.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide such an improvedstorage and display rack in which the individual wire-formed baskets aredemountable and may be nested within one another for convenience inpacking and shipping.

The improved storage and display rack of the present invention, in theembodiment .to be described, consists of an elongated wire-formedbasket. The elongated basket of the rack to be described is separatedinto individual sections by removable wire-formed dividers, orpartitions. These dividers may be locked rigidly at predeterminedlocations along the basket, and they also serve as a structural supportfor further like baskets stacked on top of one another, the resultingstack of baskets being supported, for example, in the above-mentionedbracket, as will be described.

The wire-formed baskets in the storage and display rack of the inventionmay be stacked to any desired height, and the baskets are so conceivedand constructed as to enable the stack to be rigid in nature, andcapable of being afllxed to appropriate supporting brackets. The displayrack may include a Wood, or metal base, and the brackets are mounted onthe base in an upright manner for supporting the stacked basketssecurely and rigidly. If desired, however, the self-supportingwire-formed ice baskets of the invention may be positioned in theexisting shelves or cabinets in the market. a

It will also be appreciated as the description proceeds that theindividual self-supporting baskets of the display rack of the inventionmay be stacked against walls or partitions in the market, or they may beset out in the middle of the floor, with the baskets held in a rigidstack on the above-mentioned base and upright brackets.

It will also become apparent a the description proceeds that theself-supporting wire-formed baskets of flae improved display rack of theinvention may be stacked on the aforementioned upright brackets for asingle-ended display, or for a back-toback double-ended display.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent froma consideration of the following description, when the description isconsidered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective fragmentary view of a plurality of elongatedwire-formed baskets stacked on one another to constitute a display rackconstructed in accordance with the concepts of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a view, substantially on the line 22 of FIGURE 1, andillustrating the manner in which the baskets in the display rack ofFIGURE 1 are stacked on one another and supported on an appropriateupright bracket; and

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary exploded view illustrating various componentsof the individual baskets which make up the improved display rack of theinvention.

Each section of the display rack of the invention comprises an elongatedwire-formed basket member 10. In the illustrated embodiment, the basicbasket is formed of a plurality of parallel wires 12 which extend thelength of the basket, and which constitute the back, bottom and front ofthe basket.

As shown in FIGURES 1 and 3, for example, the back of the basket extendessentially perpendicularly up from the bottom, Whereas the front of thebasket extends at an angle. This particular construction enables similarbaskets to be nested within one another for shipping purposes, with aresulting saving in shippage space.

In order to support the spaced longitudinal wires 12 in position, and toserve other functions, pairs of closely spaced Wire-like members 14extend across the basket at spaced intervals along the basket. Thespaced wirelike members 14' extend down the back of the basket, acrossthe bottom, and up the front. The wires 12 are Welded, or otherwisesecured to the wire-like transverse members 14.

Each of the wire-like transverse members 14 has a pair of loops 16formed in the portion thereof at the back of the basket, a second pairof axially aligned loops 18 formed therein in the portion thereoftransversing the bottom of the basket, and a pair of loops 19 formedtherein at the end adjacent the front of the basket.

As shown in FIGURE 3, for example, the individual wires 12 pass over thewire-like members 14. A plurality of wire-formed partitions, such as thepartition 20 are provided. Each of these partitions includes anenclosing wire frame 21, and a plurality of spaced parallel wires 22 arefixed to the frame 21. A central wire 24 on the partition has a pair ofloops 26 at its opposite ends.

Each partition 20 is adapted to fit down between the loops i6, 318, and20, as shown, for example, in FIGURE 2. The partitions 20 are rigidlysupported between the loops, as mentioned above, and when so supported,the loops 26 are in respective axial alignment with the pairs of loopsl6 and 1?. Locking pins 30 are provided which extend through the axiallyaligned loops so as to lock the partitions securely in place.

As best shown in FIGURE 2, it will be appreciated that the lower portionof each transverse pair 14 provides a channel for support on thepartition of the next lower like basket in a rigid stacked condition.

When the partitions 2% have been inserted and locked in place, in themanner described above, the individual self-supporting baskets may bestacked one on top of the other, as shown in FIGURE 1. Each of thevertical partition members is locked rigidly in predetermined locationsalong the corresponding baskets, as described above, and each serves asa structural support for the next uppermost basket. The baskets may bestacked to any desired height to form a solid fixture.

if so desired, a metallic or wood base 40 may be provided, and aplurality of upright brackets 42 may be mounted on the base. Theindividual baskets may be secured to the brackets 42 by clips 44 (FIGURE3) which extend across the wire-like pairs 14, and which are heldagainst the brackets 42 by appropriate bolts 46 and nuts and lockwashers 48.

It is evident, therefore, that sections of the improved display and strage rack of the invention may be built up on special metal or wirebases, as illustrated in FIG- URE l. Alternately, the baskets of theinvention may be supported on shelves or in wooden gondolas; or, theself-supporting baskets of the invention may be stacked on the floor ofthe market itself to any desired height.

Moreover, the baskets may be built up against Walls, partitions, gondolabaskets or ends. In addition, the improved basket sections of thedisplay rack of the invention may be mounted as a single-sided display;or they may be mounted back-to-back, for example in the manner shown inFIGURE 1, as a double-ended display.

Furthermore, the improved baskets of the invention may be usedindividually, or in small groupings, to create a special departmenteffect.

The invention provides, therefore, an improved storage and display rackwhich is extremely flexible, and which can be used in a variety ofsizes, shapes and locations, to display goods in a retail market, or inany other environment.

The display racks of the invention are particularly advantageous in thatthey are relatively simple in their construction, and can be relativelyeasily assembled into a desired configuration.

An important feature of the display rack of the invention is the factthat the individual baskets are selfsupporting, and may be convenientlystacked on top of one another. When the baskets are so stacked, theinclined front section permits easy access to the goods contained in theindividual baskets.

Moreover, the use of the partitions at the predetermined intervals alongthe stacks can provide any desired modular length to the individualbaskets.

Also, the configuration of the illustrated baskets of the invention issuch that they may conveniently be nested within one another forshipping purposes.

While a particular embodiment of the invention has been shown anddescribed, modifications may be made, and it is intended in the claimsto cover such modifications which fall within the scope of theinvention.

What is claimed is:

1. A display rack for the random bulk display of articles to bemerchandised, said rack including: at least one elongated receptaclehaving a front, a back and a bottom; means for defining loops atpredetermined positions in said receptacle; at least one partitionmember adapted to fit into said receptacle and having loops formedtherein in respective axial alignment with corresponding ones of saidfirst-mentioned loops; and at least one locking pin adapted to passthrough the axially ali ned loops so as to anchor said partition memberin place.

2. A display rack for the random bulk display of articles to bemerchandised, said rack including: at least one elongated basket havinga front, a back and a bottom; means for defining loops at predeterminedpositions on the front, back and bottom of said basket; a plurality ofpartition members adapted to fit into said basket to sep arate saidbasket into sections, each of said partition members having loops formedtherein in respective axial alignment with corresponding ones of saidfirst-mentioned loops; and a plurality of locking pins adapted to passthrough the axially aligned loops so as to anchor said partition membersin place.

3. A display rack for the random bulk display of articles to bemerchandised, said rack including: at least one elongated basket havinga front, a back and a bottom; a plurality of pairs of closely spacedwire-like anchor members positioned at spaced locations along saidbasket and having aligned loops therein at predetermined positions alongthe length thereof, each of said pairs of wirelike members extendingdown said back, across said bottom and up said front of said basket andspaced and parallel to one another; a plurality of partition membersrespectively adapted to fit between the wire-like members of each ofsaid pairs to separate the basket into sections, each of said partitionmembers having loops formed therein in respective axial alignment withsaid loops in said Wire-like members; and a plurality of locking pinsadapted to pass through the axially aligned loops of said wire-likemembers and partition members so as to anchor said partition members insaid basket 4. A display rack for the random bulk display of articles tobe merchandised, said rack including: at least one elongated wire-formedbasket having a plurality of spaced wires extending parallel to oneanother along the length of the basket to form a front, a back and abottom for the basket; a plurality of pairs of closely spaced parallelwire-like members positioned at spaced locations along said basket andhaving aligned loops therein at predetermined positions along the lengththereof, each of said pairs of Wire-like members extending parallel toone another down said back, across said bottom and up said front of saidbasket; a plurality of Wire-formed partition members havingcorresponding edges that fit between the wire-like members of each ofsaid pairs to provide ends for the basket and to separate the basketinto sections, each of said partition members having loops formedtherein in respective axial alignment with said loops in said wire-likemembers; and a plurality of locking pins adapted to pass through theaxially aligned loops in said wire-like members and partition members soas to anchor said partition members in said basket.

5. The display rack defined in claim 4 in which said back of said basketextends substantially perpendicularly to said bottom and said front isinclined outwardly with respect to said bottom, so as to permit likebaskets to nest therein.

6. The display rack defined in claim 4 in which said spaced wiresforming said bottom of said basket are disposed over said pairs ofclosely-spaced parallel wire-like members, so as to permit said basketto be stacked over a like basket with said pairs of parallel wire-likemem bers receiving the top edges of respective ones of the dividermembers of the like basket so as to prevent axial movement between thebasket and said like basket.

7. The display rack defined in claim 4 and which includes a supportingbracket, and a plurality of baskets duplicating said basket mounted instacked relationship on said support bracket.

References Sited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,868,391 Sides Jan. 13, 1959 2,910,188 Skolfield Oct. 27, 19593,015,399 Radek Jan. 2, 1962

1. A DISPLAY RACK FOR THE RANDOM BULK DISPLAY OF ARTICLES TO BEMERCHANDISED, SAID RACK INCLUDING: AT LEAST ONE ELONGATED RECEPTACLEHAVING A FRONT, A BACK AND A BOTTOM; MEANS FOR DEFINING LOOPS ATPREDETERMINED POSITIONS IN SAID RECEPTACLE; AT LEAST ONE PARTITIONMEMBER ADAPTED TO FIT INTO SAID RECEPTACLE AND HAVING LOOPS FORMEDTHEREIN IN RESPECTIVE AXIAL ALIGNMENT WITH CORRESPONDING ONES OF SAIDFIRST-MENTIONED LOOPS; AND AT LEAST ONE LOCKING PIN ADAPTED TO PASSTHROUGH THE AXIALLY ALIGNED LOOPS SO AS TO ANCHOR SAID PARTITION MEMBERIN PLACE.
 2. A DISPLAY RACK FOR THE RANDOM BULK DISPLAY OF ARTICLES TOBE MERCHANDISED, SAID RACK INCLUDING: AT LEAST ONE ELONGATED BASKETHAVING A FRONT, A BACK AND A BOTTOM; MEANS FOR DEFINING LOOPS ATPREDETERMINED POSITIONS ON THE FRONT, BACK AND BOTTOM OF SAID BASKET; APLURALITY OF PARTITION MEMBERS ADAPTED TO FIT INTO SAID BASKET TOSEPARATE SAID BASKET INTO SECTIONS, EACH OF SAID PARTITION MEMBERSHAVING LOOPS FORMED THEREIN IN RESPECTIVE AXIAL ALIGNMENT WITHCORRESPONDING ONES OF SAID FIRST-MENTIONED LOOPS; AND A PLURALITY OFLOCKING PINS ADAPTED TO PASS THROUGH THE AXIALLY ALIGNED LOOPS SO AS TOANCHOR SAID PARTITION MEMBERS IN PLACE.